About three-fourths of the ethnic majority in the SAR prefer to call themselves "Chinese", instead of "Hong Kong Chinese", and are proud to do so.

Most of the more than 1,000 people covered by a government committee survey last year said they were proud of the mainland's recent economic, technological and political achievements and its present status in the world.

And 70 per cent didn't want Hong Kong's future development to hurt the motherland.

Asked if they would consider immigrating to another country, 56 per cent said "no".

David Heung, chairman of the committee that conducted the study, said the results show that the people of Hong Kong share their sense of national identity with the motherland.

On strengthening the sense of national identity, about 38 per cent said public schools should hold a national flag-raising ceremony everyday.

(China Daily HK Edition June 2, 2005)